Metal Enclosures Contain Hidden Job-Site Savings

Enclosures satisfy the need for temporary spaces at plants, saving employers the cost of workers traveling off-site. In response to energy crises, many fossil fuel-burning plants in Western states are undergoing repairs, and hundreds, even thousands, of contracted workers are needed to make the changes. With so many people working in spaces not designed to accommodate them, productivity suffers. Time

In response to energy crises, many fossil fuel-burning plants in Western states are undergoing repairs, and hundreds, even thousands, of contracted workers are needed to make the changes. With so many people working in spaces not designed to accommodate them, productivity suffers.

“Time is lost when these crews, tools, and equipment are accommodated in trailers outside the facility,” says Ray Schwartz, a utility industry consultant in Rochelle, Ill.

“Contractors can provide access to everything their men need inside the enclosures: tools, change, and break rooms,” Schwartz says. “If you throw in catering, their crews may never have to leave the work site. The savings add up when skilled labor can cost over $50 an hour.”

The enclosures are made up of prepunched panels that join with a locking key. Assembly crews can quickly attach roof panels to wall panels. In interior enclosures, roof and wall panels are interchangeable, which increases the flexibility of configurations.

The enclosures can save labor hours lost to needless travel time for workers — and they only take hours to assemble. In some cases, contractors can erect the enclosures in boilers and move them as needed. The manufacturer's protective storage racks simplify shipping over long distances.

As a previous user of the enclosures, Schwartz credits the locking key panel design for portability and a design flexibility that allows the enclosures to match each job site's size and access requirements.

“The panels assemble and disassemble quickly wherever they're needed,” Schwartz says. “Just put the key in, twist, and the panels lock together — there's no need for bolts. Since they're interchangeable, you can easily make just about any configuration required.”

Contractors can size each structure to their needs. If a job requires a bigger enclosure than one already in use, the contractor can add panels to it instead of buying a completely new structure. Larger enclosures can also break down into several smaller ones.

While energy shortages may be a problem for some time, reusable enclosures offer an immediate and practical way to speed the renovation of fossil fuel-burning plants.

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